Pentagon & Congress

Boehner: Obama should draft new version of AUMF

May 19, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) talks to reporters after the weekly House GOP caucus meeting at the Republican National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill May 19, 2015 in Washington, DC. Boehner said U.S. President Barack Obama should scrap his plan for military force against the so-called Islamic State or ISIS and start over. "The president's request for Authorization of Use of Military Force calls for less authority than he has today. Given the fight that we're in, it's irresponsible," Boehner said. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner says President Obama should scrap his draft of new war powers to fight Islamic State militants and send a new one to Congress.

Boehner said Tuesday that the first Authorization for the Use of Military Force Obama sent Congress would leave him with less authority than he has today.

To fight IS, Obama is relying on congressional authorizations given to President George W. Bush after 9/11.

Boehner accused the president of having no strategy to fight IS and lamented the militants' weekend takeover of the strategic Iraqi city of Ramadi.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia says Boehner's request means the House is avoiding a debate on the issue.

He says that means the Senate needs to take up the issue as soon as possible.

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